The "Drybar Bill" Could Change Your Salon Drinking Experience

There's a bill in California that could affect the blowout experience there forever. AB1322, a.k.a. the "Drybar bill" would legally allow complimentary alcohol in the state's salons—ensuring that the mimosa that's become as important to one's weekly blowout as the hairstyle itself stays protected under law. (Some salongoers are already privy to the perks of such a law, including those in Maryland's Montgomery County.)

The thing is, salons aren't officially allowed to serve alcohol without a license. And most of your neighborhood salons don't have one. That's why California legislation is currently considering [AB1322] (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1322), which would officially allow salons to serve complimentary beer or wine to customers. Seem great? Well, the bill comes with some mixed opinions.

If the "Drybar bill" is signed into law, it would mandate that customers only be served a maximum of six ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer during their visit. Existing law in California does not allow unlicensed parties to sell and serve alcohol, with the odd exception of recreational hot-air balloon or limousine rides, where alcoholic drinks can be served as long as there is no charge for them. AB1322 would add beauty salons to these exceptions. Meanwhile, the California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA) is protesting the bill, calling the legislation “irresponsible." Protest demonstrations have been undertaken with the statements “Alcohol belongs in saloons, not salons” and “Cut my hair, not my liver.”

Watch: Extend the Life of Your Blowout

Extend the Life of Your Blowout

Some salon owners are on board with the bill. “I would love for this bill to pass, as my clients ask me all the time—usually in the later part of the afternoon—for a glass of wine," says Marco Pelusi, the owner of Marco Pelusi Salon in West Hollywood, California. "I absolutely think it relaxes them and creates more of a social experience. Anytime the clients attach something positive to the salon experience makes it memorable and keeps them coming back."

Still, those fighting the bill seek to save salongoers from themselves. "This bill is nothing more than another ploy to enrich the special interest of a few and the alcohol lobby to the detriment of the health and safety of our community members," states Richard Zaldivar, co-chair of CAPA and an Alcohol Justice board member, in a news release. "We do not need special privileged legislation that would allow beauty salons and barber shops to be able to serve alcohol without proper state licenses. Our community members suffer enough with thousands of alcohol-related deaths and other physical harm."